Cleveland Indians pitcher Brett Myers sidelined due to elbow injury

CHICAGO -- Cleveland Indians right-hander Brett Myers is expected to miss about a month due to tendinitis and a mild ligament sprain in his right elbow.

Myers pitched five innings of three-run ball against Houston on Friday, then said he had been dealing with a problem with the flexor tendon in his arm since spring training. He is 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in three starts and one relief appearances this season, allowing 10 homers.

The Indians placed Myers on the disabled list on Sunday and made the move retroactive to Saturday. The pitcher returned to Cleveland over the weekend, where he was diagnosed with right elbow tendinitis and a mild ulnar collateral ligament sprain. He will stop throwing for two weeks, and then be evaluated again.

"It is what it is. I don't think he felt like it was going to be worse than that," manager Terry Francona said before the Indians faced the Chicago White Sox on Monday. "The two weeks down, and then hopefully get him on a good throwing program, get him back on the mound helping us."

The 32-year-old Myers agreed to a $7 million, one-year contract in January that includes an $8 million club option for 2014, part of an active offseason for the Indians. He is 97-96 with a 4.25 ERA in 381 career games.

"I think what he said in spring was normal soreness that he thought he could pitch through and for whatever reason it didn't go that way this time," Francona said.

Right-hander Corey Kluber will start in Myers' place on Wednesday against the White Sox.

Also Monday, the Indians activated right-hander Matt Albers from the restricted list and designated right-hander Fernando Nieve for assignment. Albers had been dealing with a family issue.

"He understands completely that he had our blessing to be at home and our thoughts and our prayers were always with him, and hopefully even our actions," Francona said, "and that we welcome him back. At the same time we will think about his wife and his family. Hopefully now this is where these guys can help him."

All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup after missing Sunday's 5-4 victory at Houston with a bruised left wrist. Cabrera was injured when he fell down the steps on the way to the dugout on Saturday.

Francona also said catcher Lou Marson will rejoin the team on Tuesday and be activated on Wednesday. Marson went on the disabled list on April 9 after he injured his neck in a home-plate collision with Tampa Bay outfielder Desmond Jennings.

Yan Gomes was promoted on the same day Marson went on the DL, and Francona indicated the young catcher is probably headed back to the minors.

"We've talked to Yan about this," he said. "I mean we haven't made a move yet, but he understands that he does not need to be sitting here not playing. It's not in his interest for his future."

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